5 days ago
'Lucky' Russell Martin gets Rangers warning as former Swansea boss lands new job
'Lucky' Russell Martin gets Rangers warning as former Swansea boss lands new job
Ex-Rangers star Jermain Defoe has issued a telling warning to the man who will be tasked with filling the Ibrox hotseat, former Swansea manager Russell Martin
Former Swansea boss Russell Martin is the new head coach of Rangers
(Image: SNS Group )
Jermain Defoe has acknowledged that any coach taking the reins at Rangers is "lucky", but he was quick to point out the tremendous pressure that ex-Swansea City boss Russell Martin will now be under.
After Barry Ferguson temporarily took the helm following Philippe Clement's departure in February, Martin, who helped guide The Swans to 15th and 10th-placed Championship finishes during his two seasons at The Stadium, has now been installed in Glasgow.
The 39-year-old, acquainted with Ibrox from a rather forgettable loan spell a decade ago, faces the challenge of reclaiming league title glory after a season that left fans disheartened.
Defoe, whose tenure with Rangers culminated in securing their illustrious 55th Scottish Premiership title, reflected on the responsibilities associated with managing at Ibrox. He highlighted the privilege linked to the managerial post, but also cautioned that anything less than outstripping Celtic is tantamount to failure.
"It is a huge football club, and whoever gets that job, you know, they're a lucky manager," Defoe commented, via the Record, before the appointment of Martin. "I was in a team where we won... it was 55 league titles.
"It was the special one, really. The one that the fans were craving - stop Celtic from doing 10 in a row, that sort of stuff. But to have that experience. It was amazing. I still keep in contact with a lot of the people there at the club.
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"Of course, when we won the league, with Steven [Gerrard] the squad that we had. And obviously, I left and Calvin Bassey left. And everyone sort of left and Gio [Giovanni van Bronckhorst] came in - so close to winning the European trophy (Europa League).
"But then you just thought that the club would sort of kick on from then and sort of just dominate and go on and win the league every year. And it's just not happened. It's been frustrating to sit back and see.
Defoe won the Scottish Premiership under Steven Gerrard
(Image: PA )
"And even more recently, the gap between us and Celtic at the minute. The manager has lost his job, which is part and parcel now.
"Especially at a club like that, where it's just all about winning. That's the sort of mentality up there. The sort of like demand, the pressure that you get from the board and the fans. You have to win. You know, if you come second, you might as well come last."
Celtic have clinched the last four Scottish league titles, with Defoe's Gers being the team that stopped the prior run from reaching 10 consecutive wins. Thus, the former England striker reminisces positively about his tenure at Ibrox.
"I love that club," continued Defoe. "I mean, I can sit here for hours and talk about that club, with what I experienced there. Obviously, when I got linked with Rangers, of course I knew that it was a big club.
"From a young kid watching Ally McCoist, who I've come across in media now, one of the nicest guys, humble, iconic figure at the football club, Graeme Souness, again, when he was on Sky. So I always knew it was a big club.
"But when you go, you have to go and actually experience it. And even when you walk into Ibrox, you can feel the history. It's weird. You have to experience it.
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"And you walk down the tunnel, you're reminded of the players that have been there and won trophies. And you just want to be amongst those players."
Martin will now look to get his managerial career back on track after the disappointing end to his 17-month Southampton spell. He guided the Saints to Premier League promotion via the play-offs after leaving Swansea amid controversial circumstances, but just one win in his first 16 top-flight games saw him sacked.
